The Class AAAAAAA basketball final fours are set for Saturday at Buford City Arena. Here’s a look at the two pairs of games that will decide finalists that will meet in Macon next week.
GIRLS
Cherokee vs. Westlake (2 p.m.) –
*Westlake is the two-time defending champion and ranked No. 21 nationally by MaxPreps. The Lions’ losses are to out-of-state teams. They’ve won their state-playoff games by 32, 31 and 29 points. Westlake’s best is junior point guard Raven Johnson, a five-star recruit averaging 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 4.4 steals.
*Cherokee, ranked No. 3, is in the semifinals for the second straight season after beating No. 4 North Forsyth 53-47, avenging a regular-season loss. Kate Johnson had a triple-double of 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocked shots, and it was the Cherokee senior class’s 100th victory.
Campbell vs. Collins Hill (6 p.m.) –
*Campbell (23-7), the Region 2 runner-up to Westlake, is ranked No. 6. Three of Campbell’s seven losses are to Westlake. Campbell is in the semifinals for the first time since 2011 and has never reached the finals. Campbell beat Brookwood 53-50 in the quarters. Campbell’s best player is Jameah Alston, a 5-8 guard/forward who scored 22 points against Brookwood.
*Collins Hill (30-0) was the 2019 runner-up to Westlake. The Eagles have beaten each of their opponents by 17 points or more. That’s includes Region 3 champion McEachern, which fell 61-40 this week in the quarterfinals. Collins Hill’s best player is Sacha Washington, a 6-1 forward committed to Purdue. She had 17 points and 17 rebounds against McEachern.
BOYS
Milton vs. Wheeler (4 p.m.) –
*Milton (26-4) is trying to reach the finals for the first time since winning a championship in 2012 under legendary coach David Boyd. Allen Whitehart, who did good work at Etowah and Buford, has the Eagles back in contention. Milton beat Newton 68-62 in the quarterfinals. Milton’s best player is point guard Bruce Thornton, who scored 28 points in the victory over Newton. He’s a top-50 national recruit among sophomores.
*Wheeler (22-7) is trying to reach the finals for the first time since winning a championship in 2015 under legendary coach David Lipscomb. Larry Thompson, who did good work at Greenforest Chrisian, has the Wildcats back in contention. Wheeler’s best player is Region 2 player of the year Sam Hines, a 6-6 forward committed to the University of Denver. Wheeler beat Berkmar 53-43 in the quarterfinals. Hines scored 15 points.
McEachern vs. Grayson (8 p.m.) –
*Grayson (29-1) defeated McEachern 83-57 on Dec. 14. Grayson is ranked No. 1 in state and No. 2 nationally by MaxPreps. Grayson’s best player is point guard Deivon Smith, a Mississippi State signee. Caleb Murphy, a 6-2 guard, has signed with South Florida. Grayson has never won a state title or reached a championship game in boys basketball. Grayson beat Norcross 65-27 in the quarterfinals. Murphy, who transferred from Norcross, scored 20 points.
*McEachern (22-5) is the defending champion and ranked No. 5. Its best player is reigning state player-of-the-year Sharife Cooper, an Auburn signee and point guard. Cooper scored 27 points in a 75-68 victory over North Gwinnett in overtime in the quarterfinals.
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